FN America has been given a $4.9 million contract to provide the US Army with its flagship M240L lightweight medium machine guns.
The decision is based on the introduction of the NATO-standard weapon into the military in 2010 as part of a development plan to create a lighter, more robust firearm for soldiers.
Compared to its predecessor, the M240B medium machine gun, the M240L has an 18% lower weight, yet it still has the same range and firepower.
The 7.62×51-millimeter weapon has a titanium construction, which reduces its weight by around 5 pounds (2.2 kilograms) when compared to its predecessor.
The FN MAG 58 general-purpose weapon, which has been used by the US military since the 1970s, served as the model for its overall layout, as well as the structural layout for the company’s M240 line of machine guns.
